Psychologists say that it is human nature to want what we can't have. Throw a little sexual desire into that mix and you have kind of romantic and sexual angst that is stuff of great romance and literature.

Suddenly, unlike banality of every day relationships, you can find yourself in an epic personal drama filled with anticipation of seeing your long lost partner once again. This sounds good, but is it actually a healthy, practical way to conduct a relationship?

Of course, aside from being tantalized by promise of love that shines so distantly on horizon, there are many other very pragmatic reasons why you could find yourself suddenly in a long distance relationship.

** Common Scenarios **

A very common scenario are young lovers who are forced to call it quits because they end up attending different colleges in different cities, states, or even continents.

Debt, fame, ailing spouses, war, disease, responsibilities towards an ex spouse or children, career obligations, can separate people.

There are a million reasons why you can be forced to say good-bye, but does it have to be forever?

The first thing to understand is that a relationship conducted across great distances does not necessarily qualify as a ‘relationship’ in ordinary sense.

For instance, if a girl has been dating a guy for four years and he suddenly decides to travel across Europe with nothing but a backpack and pocket change to find himself, where does this leave her?

Rather than ever be left wondering, it is crucial for two of you to establish some rules and boundaries around relationship long before anyone starts packing.

It is not going to work if you are still trying to figure out "where you stand" in relationship as your loved one is boarding plane.

First of all there must be some kind of mutual agreement that you are in a long-distance relationship and that there should be no infidelity.

Many long-distance relationships fail because of mixed messages from one partner or other. Usually one person believes that "out of sight, out of mind" rule applies and that while there is distance between you "anything goes!"

The other party in relationship might believe opposite (that absence makes heart grow fonder) and then get a rude shock when they don't receive emails or phone calls or do receive one that describes a budding new romance.